Ernie McAlister (born 17 June 1957) is the current mayor of Cary, North Carolina.

Born in Tampa, Florida, McAlister holds a bachelor's degree in business from Pfeiffer University . A resident of Cary since 1988, McAlister was elected mayor in 2003. He is married and has no children. Although his office is officially non-partisan, McAlister is affiliated with the Republican Party.